Ceremonies Regularly Observed at the Centre
World Peace Day (early January): 5 hours of chanting services devoted to Peace on Earth. All the countries and geographical areas are recited with the peace prayer, May Peace Prevail on Earth.
Kannon Day (January): Prostrations, chanting, and
incense offerings to honor and express gratitude to the Bodhisattva
of Compassion.
The Buddha’s Parinirvana
(on or near February 13): All-Day sitting or evening zazen which
concludes with special chanting service with account of the Buddha’s
Parinirvana.
Jukai
(near April 8 and in November): Formal ceremony of entering the
Buddha’s Way. Short Repentance Ceremony; chanting; "incense
offering";
taking of the Three Refuges, Three General Resolutions, and Ten
Cardinal Precepts.
Vesak,The Buddha’s Birthday Celebration
(end of May): Offerings made by participants of sweet tea, flowers
and
small baby present; story and play of the Buddha’s birth; parade
with
elephant; sleeping sage tells Jataka tales; pot-luck picnic with
birthday cake; presents for all children.
Water-Baby Ceremony
(August): Ceremony for infants and fetuses who have died through
miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion. Tiny garments are sewn and
placed on Jizo figures as a way of remembering these "water babies."
The service is held in the Jizo garden, with special chants and
offerings of incense and water.
Bodhidharma Day (on or near October 5): Zazen (or
all-day sitting); Special chanting service with powdered incense
offering.
Hungry Ghost Ceremony
(on or near Halloween): People (especially children) arrive in
costumes; Special Hungry Ghost Altar set up for receiving food and
water offerings; story of Hungry Ghosts; Hungry Ghost chant;
trick-or-treating throughout house; party.
Thanksgiving Ceremony (Sunday before Thanksgiving):
Ceremonies of gratitude; offerings; chanting; circumambulation.
The Buddha’s Enlightenment (December
8): Five- or seven-day sesshin beginning with ceremony, or ceremony
during a sitting. Reading of Buddha’s Enlightenment account;
chanting;
circumambulation; "tossing" of the sutra books.
Home Purifications
(Late December just before New Year’s): Sangha homes are thoroughly
cleansed in preparation for the New Year; ceremony of chanting,
circumambulation throughout house and offerings at altar(s).
New Year’s Ceremonies (December 31): Zazen; full Repentance Ceremony; reading aloud of unsigned resolutions; incense offerings at altars throughout the house; driving out of demons circumambulation with noise-making; Precepts ceremony; candle-lighting ceremony with gongs; New Year’s prayer; music and refreshments.
Ceremonies of Aid and Famine Relief Ceremonies
(quarterly): Zazen; chanting; prostrations; circumambulation with
incense offering and, if a Famine Relief Ceremony, offerings of dry
or
canned food and money; Special Eko to return merit to focus of
ceremony.
NOTE: Ceremonies of Aid are observed no less than once every
three months. Generally they alternate with Famine Relief Ceremonies
which are also fast days. Aid ceremonies have been held for animals,
areas of the world in turmoil, and for individuals who are
undergoing a
crisis.
Other services held at the Centre include weddings, naming
ceremonies for babies, memorial services and funerals.